SPARK Science Learning System Update

Description:

• Update for SPARK Science Learning Systems.
• Includes over 60 FREE SPARKlabs
• SPARKlabs available with Spanish content

There are three options to update the SPARK Science Learning System.

1. SPARK Science Learning System with labs in English (updates to version 1.3.0 and OVERWRITES all files in Experiments and Saved Work directories)
2. SPARK Science Learning System with labs in Spanish (updates to version 1.3.0 and OVERWRITES all files in Experiments and Saved Work directories)
3. SPARK Science Learning System without labs (updates to version 1.3.0 and does not install any SPARKlab updates)

Users can manually install individual SPARKlabs as needed.

Note:  When updating from 1.2 and earlier, save important files to a flash drive because the storage space is reformatted and existing files will be permanently deleted from the device.

Description of Changes:

    The 1.3.0 update provides the ability to use video devices such as microscopes and web cameras to capture still images and perform some measurement and analysis on them.  

Changes from the previous updates include:

• Support for Ocean Optics Spectrometers (including Amadeus and Red Tide)
• Improved power manager for increased battery life on sleeping devices
• Hebrew keyboard (does not include full Hebrew language support)
• Enables the SPARK Science Learning System to connect to a computer as a USB mass storage device for easier file transfer (requires a USB cable such as the PS-2528)

Updating Your SPARK Science Learning System:  
(PASCO recommends backing up any locally generated files prior to updating the SPARK Science Learning System)

1. Obtain a USB Flash drive that has at least 256 MB of available capacity.

2. If the drive is new or has either an unknown file format or a file format other than FAT16, we recommend reformatting the drive in FAT16 format.
  
3. Download the SPARK Science Learning System firmware update to your computer hard drive.

4. Copy the 'spark.upd' file to the top level of the file structure of the USB Flash drive.
  
5. Connect the SPARK Science Learning System to an external power adapter.
  
6. Turn off the SPARK Science Learning System by holding down the power button for several seconds.

7. Connect the USB Flash drive to the SPARK Science Learning System.
  
8. Restart the SPARK Science Learning System.

9. When prompted to "remove flash drive", remove the USB Flash drive. The SPARK Science Learning System will automatically restart.
10. Once your SPARK Science Learning System has returned to the home screen use the connector of the voltage probe to press the reset button on the back of the SPARK Science Learning System.

Helpful Info:

• To determine the version of firmware currently running on the SPARK Science Learning System, tap on the date in the top blue toolbar and select "About SPARK".